Looking for the best classics for beginners? There are tons of incredible classic books out there, but if you’re new to the classics it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s where this list comes in!
The classic books on this list are handpicked to be some of the easiest classics to read, as well as classics that are most definitely worth the time spent reading them. Many of them are fun stories that you’ll love, others are books that have highly influenced popular culture, and still others touch on important themes that make them classics you won’t want to miss. And some of the books here combine all three of these elements!
So if you’re feeling intimidated by classics and want to know where to start, check out these easy classic books for beginners to discover the vibrant world of classic books!
1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
When looking for the best classic books for beginners, The Great Gatsby should be at the top of your list! This book is one of the most classic of classics, and is definitely on the list of the best classics of all time.
This novel brings the Jazz Age to life through the story of the mysterious wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for Daisy Buchanan. It’s an interesting read and one that has captured the minds and hearts of many readers, but what makes it particularly great for beginners is that it is on the shorter side so it is not as overwhelming as other “great” classics. It’s also just a fun storyline in a fun setting, so pick this book up if you’re looking to give classics a try!
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2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Another of the best easy classics for beginners is Pride and Prejudice, and this one is a book you won’t want to miss! It’s one of the best classic romance novels of all time, and is sure to entertain.
This story follows the Bennet family and their five unmarried daughters, all of whom Mrs. Bennet does her best to marry off. Filled with romance, excitement, some scandal, and lots of fun regency social situations, this is an accessible and fun classic book for beginners.
Plus, there are lots of film adaptions that you may or may not have already seen, which can help you follow along with the story (if you have seen an adaption) or give you some motivation to finish reading so you can watch a film adaption once you’re done!
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3. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Looking for short easy read classics? Peter Pan is one of the best children’s classic books you will want to pick up!
This story is short and a classic story which has infiltrated popular culture, particularly since it’s been turned into a Disney film! But there is also just a lot of adventure and fun plot elements that make this a fast-paced and enjoyable read filled with pirates, fairies, and all sorts of adventures in Neverland with Peter Pan and Wendy! So if you’re looking for the easiest classic books to read, be sure to add this to your list!
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4. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Another of the best literature books for beginners is Murder on the Orient Express, which is a thrilling murder mystery!
This is one of Christie’s most popular books and one of the most popular murder mystery books of all time as well, and it is fairly easy to follow what is happening. It’s set on the famous Orient Express, when one night just after midnight the train is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Samel Edward Ratchett is dead in his compartment! His door is locked from the inside…and since they’re isolated in a storm, the murderer must be someone on the train. Can the detective Hercule Poirot solve the case before the murderer strikes again?
This is another classic so beloved that it’s been turned into film adaptions. If you’ve already seen the movie, you’ll know the plot (which is totally fine). But if you haven’t yet seen the movie, you can use it as a reward to watch it after you finish reading!
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5. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Another worthwhile addition to the best classics to read list for beginners is Frankenstein, which is probably in the top 10 classic books!
This book is short, making it easier for beginners than many longer novels. It may still be a little more difficult of a read than others on this list, but it is worth it because of Frankenstein’s value in literature and in popular culture. Did you know that this is often considered to be the world’s first science fiction novel? And it was written by a woman…who was only 18 at the time? Pretty cool!
You may be aware of Frankenstein’s monster from popular culture, but reading this story will give you insight into the original as you watch the scientist Victor Frankenstein as he oversteps the bounds of nature and conscience in creating a creature tortured by living in a world he doesn’t belong to. This is a striking and captivating story that is worth taking the time to read when you’re looking for must-read classics for beginners!
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6. The Odyssey by Homer
Looking for more easy to read literature classics? The Odyssey is another book that should be high on your list if you want to be well read!
This Greek classic is often considered to be the first novel of all time and is still widely read and highly regarded even thousands of years later! It’s an epic tale that follows the Greek hero Odysseus, king of Ithaca, on his extremely long and convoluted journey home after the Trojan War.
It’s filled with adventures and is overall quite an enjoyable read as well as being highly influential in the Western world, so if you want easy to read classic literature that makes an impact then this is the book for you!
7. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Another of the best classic reads for beginners is To Kill a Mockingbird, which is an unforgettable read and well worth your time!
While the story is easy to read and follow along, emotionally it is not at all an easy read…instead being a deeply moving coming-of-age tale set in the South and addressing issues of race, inequality, segregation, and more. But when looking for the classics you should read, this is one that is a must-read as it’s one of the best novels of the twentieth century and was an instant bestseller when it was first published!
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8. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
If you’re just getting into the classics, then The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes needs to be on your reading list!
Sherlock is one of the most well-known fictional detectives in literature, so any beginner’s list of classics wouldn’t be complete without at least one Sherlock story. There are full length novels you could try, or if you prefer short stories then Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is the way to go. With lots of fun and thrilling mysteries, Sherlock and Dr. Watson are on the case and can help solve any mystery or murder!
So start with the short stories if you’re looking for easy classics to read, and if you like them then be sure to check out the full length Sherlock novels as well!
Buy The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes now!
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9. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Next up on the easy classic novels list is Little Women! This novel is highly beloved, and with good reason, so be sure to add it to your reading list.
Part of what makes this book so good for those new to classics is the storyline, which is filled with fun and adventures and is easy to read. The story focuses on the March sisters (Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy) who are left at home and in charge of maintaining the household when their father goes off to war. We follow them in their lives as they grow from childhood into adulthood, and as they learn more about themselves and the love they share as a family while striving to find their own places in the world.
There are also some excellent film adaptions, so those can be good rewards or motivators to read through this classic! Or if you loved the movies, maybe you’ll find you love the book just as much (or more)!
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10. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Looking for a more exciting beginner classic book to read? The Call of the Wild is what you’re looking for!
This story is a vivid account of life in the Yukon during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, and explores themes of nature and the struggle to survive in the landscape of frozen Alaska. It’s a classic outdoor adventure book that features a dog named Buck, who was stolen from his home and sold into the brutal life of an Alaskan sled dog. We follow him as he’s forced to shed his domesticated traits to survive life in the harsh Alaskan wilderness.
This book has captured the minds and imaginations of people of all ages, so if you’re looking for a thrilling read be sure to pick this one up!
11. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emma Orczy
Another adventure-based classic you might enjoy reading if you’re new to classics is The Scarlet Pimpernel. It’s a fun historical fiction/action adventure that is also one of the best adventure books of all time!
Set during the French Revolution, this novel revolves around the mystery of the man known only as “The Scarlet Pimpernel” who successfully helps French aristocrats escape the guillotine…no matter how many traps are set for him along the way! How does he always outwit those in pursuit of him even when they’re specifically on the lookout for him to show up? Those are the questions all of England and France are asking, including the beautiful Frenchwoman Marguerite St Just. When Marguerite becomes tangled up in the controversy between the English and the French, she may just find out who The Scarlet Pimpernel really is…
This is a fun and somewhat mysterious adventure book that has been adapted over the years for film, stage, and TV, so its another classic you should definitely know and read if you want to be in the know on some of the best classic reads!
Buy The Scarlett Pimpernel now!
12. Animal Farm by George Orwell
If you’re wanting a short classic to read, then Animal Farm could be an excellent choice!
This novella is a quick read, and is a satiric fable featuring mistreated and overworked animals who take over the farm where they live. With strong idealism, these animals set out to create the equal and just world they want to live in. What could possibly go wrong?
This is one of those classics that are easy to read no matter whether you’ve read classics before or not, and if you like it you could read Orwell’s most famous work (1984) next. But Animal Farm is a great story to read on your own or a great classic to read with your book club too!
13. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Of all the easy to read classic novels, I Capture the Castle is perhaps one of the easiest! Why is it one of the easiest? Well, because the story is fun and funny and poignant and is sure to capture your heart, so it will feel like the time flies by as you read it!
This story follows 17-year-old Cassandra and her family through six turbulent months of 1934. Cassandra and her family live in poverty in an old English castle, where she keeps a journal filled with amusing and moving entries about her home, a ruined castle, and her eccentric family. You will be delighted with this read, so it’s one of the best classics for beginners that you should definitely read!
14. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Next up on the easy to read classic books list is Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, which is one of the best short classics you could read!
This is another classic that has captured the imagination of countless people, with film, book, stage, and other adaptions galore! It’s a tale filled with fun and strange adventures, beginning with Alice noticing a white rabbit taking a watch out of its waistcoat pocket and following it to see what happens. The world soon goes topsy-turvy and she’s meeting all sorts of strange and wonderful characters while navigating the world of Wonderland!
The book itself is super short and can be read in just a few hours, but some of the language can be harder to understand as it’s all very whimsical and slightly old fashioned at times. But it is still highly worth reading, if only to know where all of the popular culture references originated!
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15. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Another classic American novel all newcomers to classics should read is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn!
This book is widely considered a must-read classic, and follows the imaginative boyhood adventures of a 19th century boy as he travels down the Mississippi River with a runaway slave. Twain’s writing and use of dialogue provides a snapshot of life along the Mississippi during this time, and explores themes including “natural” vs “civilized”, dignity of human beings, and the evils of slavery.
There are many fun adventures that take place throughout this story and make it a fairly easy read, but there are also many interesting (and sometimes heavy) themes to consider that make this book one that everyone should pick up at least once in their lifetime!
Buy The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn now!
16. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
And lastly, if you’re looking for classics for beginners then the more modern classic The Fellowship of the Ring is one not to miss!
This story, and the others in the Lord of the Rings series, is highly beloved and has heavily influenced both fantasy literature and popular culture. This story is the first in the series, and introduces the world of Middle-earth and the hobbits, dwarves, elves, orcs, wizards, and the Dark Lord Sauron who wants to rule them all. It’s a tale of the battle between good and evil, and is filled with all sorts of excitement and peril that will keep you reading to know what happens along Frodo’s journey to destroy the One Ring!
Tolkien’s writing style can take a little time to get into, as there are some lengthy descriptions and some slightly old fashioned language used. But it is worth working through that to discover this epic tale!
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Thank you, lovely list and I love that it is 16 …. not 10 or 50 or 100😀
I’m glad you like the list!
Great list thanks! ^.^
You’re welcome!